Digital transport adapter

ABSTRACT

One or more computing devices may be configured to identify information corresponding to a program change request associated with a multi-program data transmission. The information may comprise at least a link to a desired program within the multi-program data transmission. The one or more computing devices may communicate the link to the desired program to a client device over a specified time period. After the time period, the one or more computing devices may communicate the desired program to the client device using a single program data transmission. The single program data transmission may be derived from the multi-program data transmission.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of prior U.S. application Ser. No.14/284,978, filed May 22, 2014, and entitled “Digital TransportAdapter.” The content of the aforementioned U.S. Application (Ser. No.14/284,978), in its entirety, is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Many users today subscribe to video services and subscription entitlesthem to view programming offered by various content sources such asESPN, HBO, etc. These subscription programming services are oftencommunicated to the users via one or more wired and/or wirelessnetworks. In some cases, other programming options may be availableusing networks that do not require a subscription, such as programmingcommunicated in a non-protected format e.g., clear Quadrature AmplitudeModulation (clearQAM) format. Sometimes, such as when non-subscriptioncontent is encrypted, a gateway device or program (e.g., a set-top box,a digital transport adapter (DTA), etc.) may be useful to allow anon-subscriber to access these programming options. However, suchdevices may be expensive to purchase and/or manufacture and may,therefore, only be offered to those who subscribe to video serviceofferings. As such, there remains a need to provide users access tocertain programming options, such as local television channels and othercontent, without requiring a subscription and/or without using expensiveequipment.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments herein, a computing device, such as a gateway (e.g.,a set top box, a DTA, a digital media server (DMS), etc.), may beconfigured to identify information corresponding to a content changerequest associated with a multi-content data transmission, such as amulti-program data stream. The information may comprise at least a linkto desired content (e.g., a video program) within the multi-content(e.g., multi-program) data stream that was received via a network. Thecomputing device may communicate the link to the desired program/contentto a client device over a specified duration of time (e.g., a specifiedtime period). After the time period, the computing device maycommunicate the desired program and/or other desired content to theclient device using a single program data transmission, such as a singleprogram data stream. The single program data stream corresponding to thedesired program may be derived from the multi-program transport streamand may provide access to the program using the link. In response to areceived channel change request, for example, the DTA may identify aprogram association table (PAT), or another data association file,within the multi-program transport stream. For example, the PAT mayinclude a link to a program mapping table (PMT), or include the PMTdata, associated with the desired programming content. For example, thePMT may include a link to a video portion of the desired program andanother link to an audio portion of the program. In some cases, the PMTmay include a link to other content, such as closed-captioning contentand/or a channel guide. To ensure that the single program data stream iscompliant to at least one communication standard (e.g., digitaltransmission content protection (DTCP), etc.), the computing device maythen generate a modified PAT and/or a modified PMT by including a DTCPdescriptor within the modified PAT and/or the modified PMT.

In some embodiments, the computing device (e.g., a gateway or set topbox) may be configured to filter, or otherwise use, at least a portionof the multi-program data stream (e.g., a multi-program transport stream(MPTS)) to produce a transmission (e.g., a single program transportstream (SPTS)) associated with the desired program and may be compliantwith one or more communications standards. In some embodiments, the SPTSmay be formed by removing programming content and/or references toprogramming content different than the program indicated by the programchange request. For example, in some embodiments, references todifferent programs may be removed from the PAT or similar data file. Insome embodiments, data streams that correspond to aspects of differentprograms (e.g., an audio portion and/or a video portion) may befiltered, or otherwise removed from the SPTS. In some cases, the singleprogram data stream may be substantially similar to the multi-programtransport stream, where one of the program mapping table and/or theprogram association table may be individually substituted with modifiedversions of the respective tables. For example, a first version of atable (e.g., a program association table, a program mapping table, etc.)may be received as part of the multi-program transport stream. In somecases, a second version of the table, for use in the single program datastream, may be created by modifying (e.g., filtering) the first versionof the table to remove references to programming content other than theprogram indicated by the program change request. For example, thecomputing device may first substitute a modified PAT in the SPTS over aspecified time period (e.g., about 100 milliseconds, about 500milliseconds, etc.). In some cases, the modified PAT may include aversion number that is the same as a version number associated with theoriginal PAT. In other cases, the modified PAT may include a versionnumber increased from the version number of the original PAT and/or aPAT previously delivered to a requesting device, such as in an SPTS.After the time period, the DTA may then revert back to the original PATand then substitute a modified PMT in the SPTS, which is thencommunicated to the client device. In some cases, the version numberassociated with the modified PMT may be set to a number equal to, orgreater than, the version number of the original PMT and/or a previouslydelivered PMT.

In some embodiments, the computing device may receive a program changerequest from a user. This program change request may be specified at auser device (e.g., a set top box or television) and/or via a client onanother device. Once received, the computing device may identifyinformation associated with the program change request within a receivedtransmission (e.g., a multi-program transport stream), such as a programassociation table including a link to an associated program mappingtable and/or the program mapping table corresponding to the requestedprogram. The computing device may be configured to communicate theprogram association table to the client device for a specified timeperiod. In some cases, a communication channel (e.g., an HTTP socket)may be or have been active between the computing device and the clientdevice. The computing device may be configured to communicate atransmission that may include minimal or no data (e.g., a null datastream) to the client device to ensure that the communication channelremains active, such as during the processing time of the program changerequest. In such cases, the computing device may communicate the programassociation table to the client device via the null data stream. Forexample, a DTA may include a modified PAT, as discussed above, withinthe null data stream for a specified time period. After the time period,the DTA may then communicate a transmission associated with a singleprogram (e.g., a single program transport stream) to the client device,where the SPTS includes at least a modified PMT and one or moreelementary streams including audio and/or video content of the requestedprogram.

In some embodiments, an apparatus may include a processor and a memorycommunicatively coupled to the processor. In some cases, the apparatusmay further include a communication interface that may becommunicatively coupled to the processor. The communication interfacemay include at least a first port configured to receive a datatransmission (e.g., an MPTS) from a service provider via a firstnetwork. The communication interface may also include a second portconfigured to communicate a single program transmission (e.g., a singleprogram data stream) to a client device, such as via a user network(e.g., a local area network, a directly wired connection, etc.). Thememory may be configured to store instructions that, when executed bythe processor, cause the apparatus to perform aspects of the techniquesdiscussed above.

For example, the apparatus may be caused to receive a request to delivera desired program to a client device, communicate a program associationtable identifying a location of a desired program within a data streamto the client device over a specified time period. In some cases, theapparatus may be configured to communicate a null data stream to theclient device. In such cases, the apparatus may insert the programassociation table into the null data stream. In other cases, theapparatus may be configured to substitute a modified (e.g., a DTCPcompliant) program association table into a single program data streambased on the multi-program transport stream. After the specified timeperiod, the apparatus may be caused to communicate, to the clientdevice, a single program data stream including the desired program,wherein the desired program content is located at position(s) within thesingle program data stream as indicated by the program associationtable.

In some embodiments, the memory may further store instructions, thatwhen executed, may cause the apparatus to receive a multi-programtransport stream via a network associated with a service provider (e.g.,Comcast), identify a program mapping table associated with the desiredprogram within the multi-program transport stream, and create the singleprogram data stream based, at least in part, on a portion of themulti-program transport stream. In some cases, the apparatus may createthe single program data stream based on information included in theprogram association table and/or the program mapping table of themulti-program transport stream. The apparatus may modify the programassociation table, such as by including a DTCP descriptor, to ensurethat a single program data stream including the modified PAT would becompliant to a specification (e.g., DTCP). The modified PAT may besubstituted into the single program data stream for a specified timeperiod. After the specified time period, the original PAT may becommunicated, along with a PMT modified with the DTCP descriptor, withinthe single program data stream to provide the requested program forpresentation to a user.

This summary is not intended to identify critical or essential featuresof the disclosures herein, but instead merely summarizes certainfeatures and variations thereof. Other details and features will also bedescribed in the sections that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some features herein are illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates an illustrative network environment.

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative computing device on which various elementsdescribed herein can be implemented.

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative content delivery system.

FIG. 4 shows a partial block diagram of an illustrative gateway device.

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative process and architecture for deliveringcontent to a user device according to at least some embodiments.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show illustrative processes of delivering desired contentto a user device in response to a program change request according to atleast some embodiments.

FIG. 8 shows an illustration of a multi-program transport stream and asingle program data stream derived, at least in part, from themulti-program transport stream according to at least some embodiments.

FIG. 9 shows an illustrative process of delivering desired content to auser device in response to a program change request according to atleast some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an information distribution network 100in which many of the various features described herein may beimplemented. The illustrated information distribution network is onlyone example of a suitable network and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the disclosure.The illustrated network should not be interpreted as having anydependency or requirement relating to any component or combination ofcomponents in an information distribution.

The network 100 may be a telecommunications network, a multi-serviceoperator (MSO) network, a cable television (CATV) network, a cellularnetwork, a wireless network, an optical fiber network, a coaxial cablenetwork, a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network, or any other suitabletype of information distribution network or combination of networks. Forexample, the network 100 may be a cellular broadband networkcommunicating with multiple communications access points, such as awireless communications tower 130. In another example, the network 100may be a coaxial system comprising a cable modem termination system(CMTS) communicating with numerous gateway interface devices (e.g.,gateway interface device 111 in example home an illustrative home 102a). In another example, the network 100 may be a fiber-optic servicesystem comprising optical fibers extending from an optical line terminal(OLT) to numerous optical network terminals (ONTs) communicativelycoupled with various gateway interface devices. In another example, thenetwork 100 may be a digital subscriber line (DSL) system that includesa local office 103 communicating with numerous gateway interfacedevices. In another example, the network 100 may be an HFC network inwhich Internet traffic is routed over both optical and coaxialcommunication paths to a gateway interface device in or near a user'shome. Various aspects of the disclosure may operate on one or more ofthe networks described herein or any other suitable networkarchitectures now known or later developed.

The network 100 may use a series of interconnected communication links101 (e.g., coaxial cables, optical fibers, wireless links, etc.) toconnect a premises 102 (such as homes) or other user environments to thelocal office 103. The communication links 101 may include any suitablewired communication links, wireless communication links, communicationsnetworks, or combinations thereof. For example, portions of thecommunication links 101 may be implemented with fiber-optic cable, whileother portions of the communication links 101 may be implemented withcoaxial cable. The communication links 101 may also include variouscommunications components such as splitters, filters, amplifiers,wireless components, and other suitable components for communicatingdata. Data may include, for example, internet data, voice data, weatherdata, content data, and any other suitable information. Content data mayinclude, for example, video content, audio content, media on demand,video on demand, streaming video, television programs, text listings,graphics, advertisements, and other content. A content item mayrepresent an individual piece of content, such as a media content item(e.g., a particular movie, television episode, online video clip, song,audio recording, image, or other media content) or any other data. Insome instances, a content item may be fragmented into segments, such asa plurality of two-second video fragments that may be separatelyaddressed and retrieved.

The local office 103 may transmit downstream information signals ontothe communication links 101, and the premises 102 may receive andprocess those signals. In certain implementations, the communicationlinks 101 may originate from the local office 103 as a singlecommunications path, and may be split into any suitable number ofcommunication links to distribute data to the premises 102 and variousother destinations. Although the term home is used by way of example,the premises 102 may include any type of user environment, such assingle family homes, apartment complexes, businesses, schools,hospitals, parks, and other suitable environments and combinations ofenvironments.

The local office 103 may include an interface 104, which may be acomputing device configured to manage communications between devices onthe network of the communication links 101 and backend devices, such asone or more servers, such as a push server 105, a content server 106,and an application server 107. For example, the interface 104 may be acable modem termination system (CMTS). The termination system may be asspecified in a standard, such as, in an example of an HFC-type network,the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) standard,published by Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. The termination systemmay be configured to transmit data over one or more downstream channelsor frequencies to be received by various devices, such as modems in thepremises 102, and to receive upstream communications from those modemson one or more upstream frequencies.

The local office 103 may include one or more network interfaces 108 forcommunicating with one or more external networks 109. The one or moreexternal networks 109 may include, for example, one or moretelecommunications networks, Internet Protocol networks, cellularcommunications networks (e.g., Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and any other suitable 2nd,3rd, 4th and higher generation cellular communications networks),cellular broadband networks, radio access networks, fiber-opticnetworks, local wireless networks (e.g., Wi-Fi, WiMAX), satellitenetworks, and any other suitable networks or combinations of networks.

The local office 103 may include a variety of servers that may beconfigured to perform various functions. The local office 103 mayinclude one or more servers (e.g., the push server 105) for generatingpush notifications to deliver data, instructions, or both to devicesthat are configured to detect such notifications. For example, the pushserver 105 may transmit an instruction to a device to transfer servicefrom one wireless network or communications access point to anotherwireless network or communications access point. Further, the localoffice 103 may include one or more content servers 106 configured toprovide content (e.g., media content) to devices. The local office 103may also include one or more application servers 107. For example, theapplication server 107 may be used to implement a caching device, suchas a cache server, for the content stored in or provided by the contentserver 106.

The premises 102 may comprise a single family home, an apartment, anoutdoor restaurant, an office suite, or any other suitable indoorenvironment and extend to an outdoor environment. The illustrative home102 a may include an interface 120, which may include one or moredevices, such as a modem 110, for communicating on the communicationlinks 101 with the local office 103, one or more external networks 109,or both. For example, the modem 110 may be a coaxial cable modem (foruse with one or more coaxial cable links 101), a broadband modem (foruse with one or more DSL links 101), a fiber interface node (for usewith one or more fiber-optic links 101), or any other suitable device orcombination of devices. In certain implementations, the modem 110 may bea part of, or communicatively coupled to, a gateway device, such as agateway interface device 111. The gateway interface device 111 may be,for example, a wireless router, a set-top box, a computer server, or anyother suitable computing device or combination.

The gateway interface device 111 may be any suitable computing devicefor communicating with the modem 110 to allow one or more other devicesin the illustrative home 102 a to communicate with the local office 103,the one or more external networks 109, or other devices communicativelycoupled thereto. The gateway interface device 111 may include one ormore local network interfaces to provide communication signals to userdevices in or near the illustrative home 102 a, such as a television112, a set-top box 113, a personal computer 114, a laptop computer 115,a wireless device 116 (e.g., a wireless laptop, a tablet computer, amobile phone, a portable gaming device), a vehicular computing system117 (e.g., a mobile computing system, navigation system, orentertainment system in an automobile, marine vessel, or aircraft) andany other suitable device.

FIG. 2 illustrates general hardware elements and software elements thatcan be used to implement any of the various computing devices and/orsoftware discussed herein. A device 200 may include one or moreprocessors 201, which may execute instructions of a computer program toperform any of the functions and steps described herein. Theinstructions may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium ormemory to configure the operation of the one or more processors 201. Forexample, instructions may be stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 202, arandom access memory (RAM) 203, removable media 204, such as a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) drive, compact disk (CD) or digital versatile disk(DVD), hard drive, floppy disk drive, or any other desired electronicstorage medium. Instructions may also be stored in a hard drive 205,which may be an internal or external hard drive.

The device 200 may include one or more output devices, such as a display206, such as an external monitor or television, and may include one ormore output device controllers 207, such as a video processor. In someembodiments, the device 200 may include one or more user input devices208, such as a remote control, keyboard, mouse, touch screen,microphone, or any other suitable input device.

The device 200 may also include one or more network interfaces, such asa network input/output (I/O) interface 210 to communicate with anexternal network 209. The network I/O interface 210 may be a wiredinterface, wireless interface, or a combination of the two. In someembodiments, the network I/O interface 210 may include a cable modem,and the external network 209 may include the communication links 101shown in FIG. 1, one or more external networks 109, an in-home network,a provider's wireless, coaxial, fiber, or hybrid fiber/coaxialdistribution system (e.g., a DOCSIS network), or any other desirednetwork.

FIG. 3 illustrates an illustrative content delivery system 300 on whichfeatures described herein may be used. The content delivery system 300may include a service provider 310 that may provide programming contentvia a network 320, such as the one or more external networks 109. Agateway device 330 may be configured to receive a transmission and/orother signal, such as a multi-program transport stream 315, from theservice provider 310 via a network (e.g., the one or more externalnetworks 109). The gateway device 330 may convert the multi-programtransport stream 315 to a single program transmission, such as a singleprogram transport stream 335, and communicate the SPTS 335 to a clientdevice 340. The client device 340 may then decode the program from theSPTS 335 and provide the program 345 to a user device 350 forpresentation to a user 360.

The service provider 310 may be, for example, a subscription servicethat allows users to view content from various content sources. Forexample, the service provider 310 may be a cable television serviceprovider, which may allow users to tune to and view content from variouscontent sources, such as video programming from HBO, ESPN, Showtime,etc. Service provider 301 may offer services on different mediaassociated with the network 320, such as via coaxial cable, fiber opticcable, wireless cellular signal, satellite, or any other desired mediafor transmitting content signals, and the content may be received by thegateway device 330, such as the set-top box 113 or a digital transportadapter (DTA) as described below.

In some cases, the service provider 310, via the network 320, mayprovide programming to a user, where the programming may be categorizedin two or more tiers. For example, a first tier of programming mayinclude encrypted content that may be offered solely to subscribers anda second tier may include programming that may include basic programmingoptions, such as local television channels, community programming, andthe like. For example, when a user 360 purchases subscription servicesfrom the service provider 310, the service provider may provide (e.g.,lease, sell, give, etc.) a set-top box 113 for use as the gateway device330. The set-top box 113 may be configured to decrypt the contentassociated with the subscribed services, such as different tiers ofcable television programming, premium channels, on-demand programming,and the like. In some cases, the set-top box may also include a digitalvideo recorder (DVR) that may be capable of recording one or moreprograms simultaneously. Further, the set-top box 113 may include one ormore memory devices (e.g., a random access memory, a flash memory, anoptical storage device, a magnetic media device, and/or the like)capable of storing large amounts of programming content. To providethese services, the set-top box 113 may be supplied in a large formfactor and may require large amounts of programming resources.

For example, the service provider 310 may provide programming contentencoded in a transport stream, such as a Motion Pictures Expert Group(MPEG) compliant transmission, such as a multi-program transport stream315. The multi-program transport stream 315 may include two or moredifferent programs within the same data stream. The programming contentfor a particular program may further be communicated as one or moreelementary streams within the MPTS 315. For example, a program may becommunicated as an audio elementary stream and a video elementarystream. In some cases, the MPTS 315 may further include other streamsthat may provide, for example, emergency services, program channelguides, and the like. The MPTS 315 may include one or more tables thatmay be used to identify which portions of the MPTS are associated with aparticular program. For example, the MPTS 315 may include a programmapping table (PMT) for each of the different programs included in theMPTS 315. The PMT may include a link identifying where a device mayaccess each of the elementary streams (e.g., audio, video, etc.)associated with the program within the MPTS 315. Further, the MPTS 315may include a program association table (PAT) that may include a listingof each PMT, and a location within the MPTS 315, for each programincluded in the MPTS 315.

In some cases, the second tier programming may be available at no, orlittle, cost to the user 360. Traditionally, the second tier programmingmay not have been encrypted, so that any user device 350 configured witha compatible tuner would allow a user to view the programming. Forexample, a television set may include a Quadrature Amplitude Modulation(QAM) tuner that a consumer could connect directly to the externalnetwork 209 and view the program. In other cases, the client device 340,that may be provided by a third-party service provider (e.g., Boxee,Roku, Apple Inc., etc.), may be used to decode and/or provide theprogramming to a television, such as the user device 350. Sometimes,however, the secondary content may be encoded. As such, the gatewaydevice 330 may provide programming in a format (e.g., the SPTS 335) thatmay be usable by the client device 340.

For example, the gateway device 330 may receive the transmission (e.g.,the MPTS 315) via the one or more external networks 109. The gatewaydevice 330 may be configured to decode content, such as in response to arequest (e.g., a channel change request) from the user 360. The set-topbox 113, as necessitated by the above mentioned features, may bepowerful enough to process the MPTS 315 in near real-time to provide atransmission for communicating a single program (e.g., the SPTS 335)tailored for the specific program requested by the user 360. Forexample, the set-top box 113 may include a sufficiently powerfulprocessor and enough memory to process the MPTS 315 in real-time andgenerate a complete SPTS 335 for each requested program. In doing so,the set-top box 113 may assemble a new SPTS 335 using information takenfrom the MPTS. For example, the set-top box 113 may copy the PAT, thePMT associated with the requested program, and the elementary audioand/or video streams into the memory. The set-top box 113 may thenassemble a new SPTS 335 using this information and including generatinga new PMT identifying the new location of the elementary streams withinthe SPTS 335 and a new PAT identifying the location of the PMT withinthe SPTS 335.

Because the set-top box 113 includes a powerful processor, it is capableof generating the new SPTS 335 with minimal latency. However, providingset-top boxes to provide this service may not be practical. For example,because features necessarily performed by the set-top box require largeamounts of processing power and/or large amounts of available memory,using the set-top box 113 to perform this decoding of the second tierprogramming would be cost prohibitive. As such, a need was recognizedfor a cost effective solution for providing access to this second tiercontent. Further, because processing power and/or energy consumption maycorrespond with the costs of the associated chipsets, a further need wasrecognized to minimize latency associated with a response to a programchange request, while minimizing energy use. For example, if a lesspowerful gateway device 330 would be used to perform the same process ofgenerating a new SPTS 335, the latency between receiving the request fora new program and providing the new content may be many times (e.g.,about 5 times, about 10 times, etc.) that of the set-top box 113. Forexample, latencies of about 5 seconds to about 10 seconds may be seenbetween receiving a content change request and providing the requestedcontent. Additionally, consumers increasingly desire to reduce energycosts associated with the use of their electronic equipment. As such,the consumers look to purchase electronic components capable of meetingvarious energy consumption requirements, such as the Energy Starprogram. Often, however, chipsets that are sufficiently powerful tominimize latencies, while minimizing energy use, are often those havingthe highest associated cost. As such, it is desirable to provide anapparatus, such as the gateway device 400 of FIG. 4, capable ofperforming a cost-effective method of providing a requested programafter a program change request, while minimizing latencies and/or energyuse.

FIG. 4 shows a partial block diagram of an illustrative gateway device400, such as the gateway device 330 of FIG. 3. The gateway device 400may be variously configured to, for example, to include one or moreprocessor(s) 410, communicatively coupled via a communications link(e.g., a data bus 425) to one or more memory devices 420, and acommunication interface 430 that may include one or more communicationsports such as at least a first communication port 440 and a secondcommunication port 450. In some cases, the gateway device 400 mayoptionally include a user interface 460 which may be provided by theprocessor(s) 410 and/or coupled to the processor(s) 410 via the data bus425, such as display ports, keyboard ports, and/or communication ports(Bluetooth, LAN, WiFi, remote ports, cell phone ports, table ports,etc.). The one or more memory devices 420 may, for example, beconfigured to store instructions that, when executed, cause theprocessor to at least perform the techniques disclosed herein such asthose described as 600 et. al, 700 et. al illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.The instructions may be stored in any type of computer-readable mediumor memory to configure the operation of the processor 201. For example,the instructions may be stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 202, randomaccess memory (RAM) 203, removable media 204, such as a Universal SerialBus (USB) drive, compact disk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD), harddrive, floppy disk drive, or any other desired electronic storagemedium. Instructions may also be stored in hard drive 205, which may bean internal or external hard drive. In many cases, the size and/or typeof the one or more memory devices 420 incorporated into the gatewaydevice 400 may be chosen based, at least in part, on a cost and/or alatency associated with a particular memory or memory type. Similarly,costs, latency times, and/or processing power may be factors used whenspecifying which particular processor to be used in the gateway device400. For example, a processor having a slightly greater cost, may bechosen based on having a significantly smaller latency time than otherpossible processors, or vice versa. Similarly, a supplier and/ormanufacture of the gateway device 400 may choose one or more memorydevices 420 and/or a communication chipset based on similar criteria.

The communication interface 430 may include one or more of thecommunication ports 440, 450 to facilitate communication via one or morenetworks. For example, the first communication port 440 may beconfigured for communication via the one or more external networks 109,such as via coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, wireless cellular signal,satellite, or any other desired media for transmitting content signals.The second communication port 450 may be configured to communicate viaone or more local interfaces, such as a wired or wireless connection tothe client device. For example, the second communication port 450 maysupport any direct and/or network connection between the gateway device330 and the client device 340.

The user interface 460 may be optionally included in the gateway device400. For example, the gateway device 400 may include one or more visualindicators (e.g., a graphical user interface, a liquid crystal display,one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), etc.) and/or audio indicators(e.g., a speaker), for example, to indicate a status of the gatewaydevice 400. In some cases, the user interface 460 may include a manualinterface for interaction with a user. For example, a user mayoptionally be allowed to enter a program change request using one ormore buttons and/or switches provided at the exterior of the gatewaydevice 400. In some cases, the user interface may include a wirelessinterface, such as an infrared and/or a radio frequency interface. Insuch cases, a user may interact with the gateway device 400 such as toenter a program change request via a remote control device. In somecases, however, a program change request may be entered by the user atthe user device (e.g., a television, a computer, etc.) or at the clientdevice either directly (e.g., manually), or remotely (e.g., a remotecontrol device, a computer interface, an application on a mobile device,etc.).

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative process 500 for delivering programmingcontent to a user device 350 according to at least some embodiments. Forexample, the gateway device 400 may receive a transmission (e.g., theMPTS 315) at the first communication port 440. The MPTS 315 may bereceived at a de-multiplexor 510 that may be included in the gatewaydevice 400. In some cases, the de-multiplexor 510 may be included in theprocessor 410, as a separate integrated circuit, and/or as individualelectronic components (e.g., transistors, capacitors, resistors, diodes,etc.). The de-multiplexor may be configured, in response to a programchange request, to provide at least a portion of the MPTS 315 to theprocessor for further processing. For example, the processor may includea filter 520 (e.g., a program identifier (PID) filter) that may be usedto produce a different transmission (e.g., a partial SPTS 525). Thepartial SPTS 525 may include one or more of the program associationtable, the program mapping table associated with the requested programand any elementary streams including programming audio and/or videocontent. In many cases, the filter 520 may be used to remove, orotherwise filter, portions of the MPTS 315 that are not associated withthe program request. For example, the filter 520, the PAT creator 530,and/or the PMT creator 540 may be used to remove references (e.g., aPMT, an entry in the PAT, etc.) to any content included in the MPTSother than the requested program. In some cases, the filter 520 may beused to remove any elementary streams associated with programs otherthan the requested program. At 550, the processor may be configured tocombine one or more of the new PAT and the new PMT with the partial SPTS525 to produce a compliant transmission (e.g., a compliant SPTS 335) atthe output of the second communication port 450. In some cases, theprocessor will be configured to supply one of the new PAT or the new PMTat a time. For example, during a first time period the partial SPS iscombined with the new PAT for communication with the client device 340for a specified time period. After that specified time period, theprocessor 410 may revert back to the original PAT and combine the newPMT with the partial SPTS 525 for communication to the client device340.

In some cases, the processor 410 may include a PAT creator 530 and/or aPMT creator 540 that may be used to modify, or otherwise create, a newPAT and/or a new PMT associated with the requested program. For example,the PAT creator 530 and/or the PMT creator 540 may be used to create aPAT and a PMT that allows a produced SPTS 335 to be compliant with oneor more specifications, such as an Advanced Television systems Committee(ASTC) specification, a Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)specification, a DLNA specification, a DTCP specification, anInternational Standards Organization (ISO) specification, an OpenCable(OC) specification, a Universal Plug-and-Play UPnP specification, and/ora Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) specification.For example, the PAT creator 530 and the PMT creator 540 may beconfigured to include a DTCP descriptor into the PAT and the PMT,respectively to be compliant with a DLNA specification (e.g., DLNAvolume 3).

FIGS. 6 and 7 show illustrative processes 600, 700 of delivering arequested content item (e.g., a program) to a user device in response toa program change request according to at least some embodiments.Although some steps may be discussed as being performed by components ordevices shown and numbered in these figures, this is done forillustrative purposes only and is in no way limiting. In some cases, theillustrative processes 600, 700 may be used for delivering a requestedprogram to a user device after the device (e.g., the gateway device 400)joins a network, establishes a connection, or simply powers up. In somecases, the illustrative processes 600, 700 may be used for an automatedprocess operating in the background when a user is viewing a program.For example, a background task may be used for tuning to a specifiedprogram in response to a request from a background task, such as aprogram request related to a digital video recorder (DVR) event. At 605,the gateway device 400 may check to see if a program change request, orother program request, has been issued. For example, the user 360 mayrequest a program change via a remote and/or manually, via the gatewaydevice 400, the client device 340 and/or the user device 350. If so, at610 and in response to the program change request, the gateway devicemay process a transmission (e.g., a multi-program transport streamreceived from the service provider, such as the MPTS 315, and, in somecases, store at least a portion of the multi-program transport stream(e.g., a packet) into the one or more memory devices 420. If, at 605, aprogram change request has not been received, however, the process mayend.

At 620, the gateway device 400 may identify a relational file, such as aprogram association table, within the MPTS 315 that includes at leastone reference to the requested program. For example, the processor maylocate the relational data within the MPTS 315 and store the data intothe one or more memory devices 420. The processor may then parse thedata to determine whether or not a link to the PMT associated with therequested program is listed within the data (e.g., a PAT). Once found,the processor may then identify the desired PMT using the informationstored in the PAT and/or store the PMT into, e.g., the one or morememory devices 420, at 630. If the PMT was not found within thatparticular MTSP packet, at 635, the processor may then repeat theprocess after processing a new packet of the transmission (e.g., theMPTS) at 610.

At 640, if the PMT associated with the requested program was found, theprocessor 410 may then create at least a single program transmission(e.g., a partial SPTS) from information communicated in the MPTS. Forexample, the processor may filter, or otherwise remove, references toprograms other than the desired program. In other cases, the processormay filter elementary streams (e.g., an audio stream, a video stream,etc.) associated with these different programs, such that the audio andvideo elementary streams associated with the desired program remain inthe single program transmission, such as the partial SPTS.

At 650, the gateway or another computing device in the system may createa modified PAT (PAT′) and/or a modified PMT (PMT′) based on theinformation in the PAT. For example, the PAT creator 530 may beconfigured to create the modified PAT′, such as by removing referencesto content different than the requested content. For example, the PATcreator 530 may remove links to PMTs and/or to elementary streamsdifferent than those corresponding to the requested program. In somecases, the PAT creator 530 may include one or more additionalparameters. For example, the PAT creator 530 and/or the PMT creator 540may be used to include at least one additional parameter (e.g., a DTCPdescriptor) so that PAT′ and/or PMT′ may be compliant with at least onestandard, such as a DLNA specification.

At 660, the processor 410 may combine the partial SPTS and PAT′ bysubstituting the new PAT′ for the original PAT in the partial SPTS toform a new compliant single program transmission (e.g., a compliantSPTS). At 670, the processor may then communicate the partial SPTS tothe client device 340 for a specified time period so that the clientdevice 340 may recognize the new PAT′. This time period may bedetermined as an average and/or an approximate time necessary for theclient device to recognize the new PAT′ in response to the programchange request. In some cases, this time may be specified in one or moredifferent standards.

At 675, the processor may determine whether or not the time period haselapsed. If not, the gateway device 400 continues to communicate thecompliant SPTS with PAT′ to the client device 340. If so, at 680, theprocessor 410 may revert back to sending the original PAT and substitutethe new PMT′ for the original PMT within the SPTS. At 690, the gatewaydevice 330 may then communicate the compliant SPTS including the programrequested by the user 360 to the client device 340.

In FIG. 7, the process 700 may be similar to the process 600 throughstep 650. For example, as mentioned above, the gateway device may beconfigured to communicate a specified data stream (e.g., null packets)when keeping a communication link (e.g., an HTTP socket) active betweenthe gateway device 400 and the client device 340, such as at 710. At720, the gateway device 400 may insert the new PAT′ into the null streamfor a specified amount of time. At 725, the gateway device may monitortime to determine whether or not the specified time period has elapsed.If not, the gateway device continues to insert PAT′ into the nullstream. If so, then at 730, the gateway device 400 may insert the newPMT′ into the partial SPTS to form a compliant SPTS and then, at 740,communicate the SPTS to the client device 340.

FIG. 8 shows an illustrative multi-program transmission, such as themulti-program transport stream 800, and an illustrative single programtransmission, such as the single program data stream 850, derived, atleast in part, from the multi-program transport stream according to atleast some embodiments. For example, the MPTS 800 may include a PAT atlocation 805, one or more PMTs at locations 810-820 each associated witha different program. The MPTS may also include one or more elementarystreams at locations 825-845 within the data stream which may includecontent of the different programs. The gateway device 400 may beconfigured to form the partial SPTS and the compliant SPTS based, atleast in part, on the MPTS. For example, locations within the datastream for the PAT or PAT′, the PMT or PMT′, and the elementary datastreams (e.g., the audio and video content of the requested program),may remain the same between the MPTS and the SPTS. Thus, even if, forsome reason, a transport stream was not properly communicated (e.g., anMPTS transferred, a different program included, etc.), the client device340 may still be able to provide the requested programming to the user360 via the user device 350.

FIG. 9 shows another illustrative process 900 of delivering a requestedprogram to a user device in response to a program change requestaccording to at least some embodiments. Although some steps may bediscussed as being performed by components or devices shown and numberedin these figures, this is done for illustrative purposes only and is inno way limiting. At 910, in response to a request for new programmingcontent, the gateway device 400 may acquire a transmission, such as amulti-program transport stream, that may include the requested content,such as the MPTS 315, from the service provider and, in some cases,store at least a portion of the message into the one or more memorydevices 420. At 915, the processor 410 of the gateway device 400 mayidentify, or otherwise acquire, a PAT within the MPTS 315 that includesat least one reference to the requested program. For example, theprocessor may locate the PAT within the MPTS 315 and store the PAT intothe one or more memory devices 420. The processor 410 may then parse thetable to determine whether or not a link to the PMT associated with therequested program is listed within the PMT. At 920, the processor 410may be configured to create a new PAT that may contain a reference to aPMT associated to the requested program, without references to otherprogramming content within the MPTS. The new PAT may be created having asame version number as the original PAT. In some cases, the new PAT maybe created having a version number greater than the version number ofthe original PAT. In some cases, the version number associated with thenew PAT may be greater than or equal to the version number associatedwith a PAT that was previously delivered to the requesting device, suchas before receiving the program change request.

At 925, the processor 410 may be configured to filter the transmission(e.g., the MPTS) to remove one or more content streams (e.g., a videocontent stream, an audio content stream, a data content stream, etc.)not associated with the requested program. In some cases, the processormay filter the one or more content streams using a PID filter configuredto filter content based on a particular program identifier (e.g., a PIDassociated with the requested program). At 930, the processor 410 maycreate a single program transmission (e.g., an SPTS) that contains oneor more content streams associated with the new program by inserting thenew PAT into the transport stream with the PMT and the video, audio anddata associated with the requested program. For example, the processor410 may be configured to use the filtered MPTS when substituting the newPAT for the original PAT within the SPTS. At 935, the processor 410 maycommunicate the SPTS to the requesting device. At 940, the processor 410may start a timer (e.g., the timer T1). The processor 410 may beconfigured to use the timer when communicating the SPTS with the new PATfor a specified time period. The SPTS with the new PAT may becommunicated over the specified time period to allow the receivingdevice to recognize a change from the original PAT to the new PAT. INsome cases, the specified time period may correspond to a transport timeof a PAT (e.g., about 30 milliseconds about 50 milliseconds, about 75milliseconds, about 100 milliseconds, etc.) or multiples of the averagetransport time (e.g., about 100 milliseconds, about 200 milliseconds,about 500 milliseconds, etc.). In some cases, the timer may be includedwith the processor or may be a separate component.

At 945, the processor 410 may monitor the time to see if the specifiedtime period has elapsed. If not, the processor 410 continuescommunication of the SPTS to the requesting device. If so, at 950, theprocessor may create a new PMT based on the original PMT and insert aDTCP descriptor, or other new information by way of other descriptortypes, into the new PMT to ensure compliance with at least onecommunications standard. In some cases, the processor 410 may assign aversion number associated with the new PMT that is greater than theversion number associated with the original PMT and/or a version numberassociated with a PMT that was delivered to the requesting device beforereceiving the program change request.

At 955, the processor 410 may be configured to modify the single programtransmission (e.g., the SPTS) to be communicated to the requestingdevice by reverting back to the original PAT and substituting the newPMT for the original PMT. For example, the processor may modify a filterto pass through the original PAT and to block the original PMT. At 960,the processor 410 may then update the SPTS by inserting the new PMT intothe SPTS at the same location the original PMT occupied in the SPTS, sothat the SPTS now includes the original PAT, the new PMT and the contentstreams (e.g., Audio, Video, Data, etc.) associated with the requestedprogram. At 965, the processor 410 may communicate the SPTS to therequesting device.

At 975, the processor 410 may monitor at least one of the multi-programtransmission (e.g., the MPTS) and the single program transmission (e.g.,the SPTS) to determine whether the version number of the PAT haschanged. If so, the processor 410 may create a new PAT associated withthe new version number at 920. If not, at 985 the processor 410 maydetermine whether a new program request has been received at the gatewaydevice 400, such as by monitoring a communication link. If no requesthas been received, the processor 410 continues to communicate the SPTSto the requesting device at 965. If a new programming request has beenreceived, then the processor 410 may then acquire an MPTS that containsthe newly requested program at 910.

The various features described above are merely non-limiting examples,and can be rearranged, combined, subdivided, omitted, and/or altered inany desired manner. For example, features of the servers can besubdivided among multiple processors and computing devices. Thedescribed example computing devices, servers and functions can beimplemented individually on different devices, or they may be combinedinto a single device.

In at least some embodiments, each of the servers and computing devicesdescribed above may be implemented as multiple servers or devices forredundancy and/or to increase the amount of analysis, data storage andother services being performed, in some cases simultaneously. Forexample, the content server 106 and/or the service provider server 310may include one or more hardware interfaces that provide physicalconnections by which the server communicates with other servers in thecontent delivery system and/or with other elements of the network. In atleast some embodiments, the servers may include hardware interfaces thatmay include one or more Ethernet cards. The servers may further includea memory for storing instructions and data and a processor for executinginstructions and controlling operation of the server. Memory and/orcomputational operations of the servers may be respectively distributedacross multiple memory devices and/or multiple processors located withinthe server and/or across memory and processors located on multipleplatforms. In some cases, the memory may include volatile andnon-volatile memory and can include any of various types of storagetechnology, including one or more of the following types of storagedevices: read only memory (ROM) modules, random access memory (RAM)modules, magnetic tape, magnetic discs (e.g., a fixed hard disk drive ora removable floppy disk), optical disk (e.g., a CD-ROM disc, a CD-RWdisc, a DVD disc), flash memory, and EEPROM memory. The processor may beimplemented with any of numerous types of devices, including but notlimited to one or more general purpose microprocessors, one or moreapplication specific integrated circuits, one or more field programmablegate arrays, and combinations thereof. In at least some embodiments, theprocessor may process operations described herein according to machinereadable instructions stored in the memory and/or stored as hardwiredlogic gates within the processor. In some cases, the processor maycommunicate with and/or control the memory and interface devices overone or more buses.

Other variations to the embodiments described may also be made, and thetrue scope of this patent should only be defined by the claims thatfollow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, by a computingdevice, a multi-program data stream comprising a plurality of programs;after receiving, from a client device, a request for a new program,replacing a first association table from the multi-program data streamwith a second association table comprising information indicative ofassets associated with the new program; transmitting, by the computingdevice and to the client device, a single-program data stream comprisingthe second association table and the assets associated with the newprogram; determining a period of time for which the client device is touse the second association table; and based on determining that theperiod of time has elapsed, replacing the second association table withthe first association table in the single-program data stream.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: removing, based on the requestfor the new program, one or more portions of the multi-program datastream to create the single-program data stream.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the replacing the first association table from themulti-program data stream further comprises: replacing, with null data,one or more different assets associated with one or more programs of theplurality of programs other than the new program.
 4. The method of claim1, further comprising: prior to the transmitting the single-program datastream, transmitting, by the computing device and to the client device,a null data stream comprising the second association table.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the replacing the second association tablewith the first association table in the single-program data streamfurther comprises: generating, based on the request for the new programand on a first program mapping table from the multi-program data stream,a second program mapping table; and replacing the first program mappingtable in the single-program data stream with the second program mappingtable.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the replacing the secondassociation table with the first association table in the single-programdata stream further comprises: locating the second association table ina position within the single-program data stream equivalent to aposition of the first association table within the multi-program datastream.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: assigning, to thesecond association table, a version number greater than or equal to aversion number of the first association table.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising: monitoring, by the computing device, themulti-program data stream for a change in a version number of the firstassociation table; and based on a detection of the change in the versionnumber, updating the second association table.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the determining the period of time for which the client deviceis to use the second association table comprises: determining, by thecomputing device and based on an average transport time, a period oftime required by the client device to process the second associationtable.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating, by thecomputing device, a content protection descriptor for the new program;and transmitting, to the client device and via the single-program datastream, the content protection descriptor.
 11. An apparatus comprising:one or more processors; and memory storing computer executableinstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe apparatus to: receive a multi-program data stream comprising aplurality of programs; after receiving, from a client device, a requestfor a new program, replace a first association table from themulti-program data stream with a second association table comprisinginformation indicative of assets associated with the new program;transmit, to the client device, a single-program data stream comprisingthe second association table and the assets associated with the newprogram; determine a period of time for which the client device is touse the second association table; and based on determining that theperiod of time has elapsed, replace the second association table withthe first association table in the single-program data stream.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory further stores computerexecutable instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further cause the apparatus to: remove, based on the requestfor the new program, one or more portions of the multi-program datastream to create the single-program data stream.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the memory further stores computer executableinstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, furthercause the apparatus to: prior to transmitting the single-program datastream, transmit, to the client device, a null data stream comprisingthe second association table.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, whereinreplacing the second association table with the first association tablein the single-program data stream further comprises: generating, basedon the request for the new program and on a first program mapping tablefrom the multi-program data stream, a second program mapping table; andreplacing the first program mapping table in the single-program datastream with the second program mapping table.
 15. The apparatus of claim11, wherein the memory further stores computer executable instructionsthat, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause theapparatus to: assign, to the second association table, a version numbergreater than or equal to a version number of the first associationtable.
 16. One or more non-transitory, computer readable storage mediacomprising computer executable instructions that, when executed by acomputing device, cause the computing device to: receive a multi-programdata stream comprising a plurality of programs; after receiving, from aclient device, a request for a new program, replace a first associationtable from the multi-program data stream with a second association tablecomprising information indicative of assets associated with the newprogram; transmit, to the client device, a single-program data streamcomprising the second association table and the assets associated withthe new program; determine a period of time for which the client deviceis to use the second association table; and based on determining thatthe period of time has elapsed, replace the second association tablewith the first association table in the single-program data stream. 17.The one or more non-transitory, computer readable storage media of claim16, further comprising computer executable instructions that, whenexecuted by the computing device, further cause the computing device to:remove, based on the request for the new program, one or more portionsof the multi-program data stream to create the single-program datastream.
 18. The one or more non-transitory, computer readable storagemedia of claim 16, further comprising computer executable instructionsthat, when executed by the computing device, further cause the computingdevice to: prior to transmitting the single-program data stream,transmit, to the client device, a null data stream comprising the secondassociation table.
 19. The one or more non-transitory, computer readablestorage media of claim 16, wherein replacing the second associationtable with the first association table in the single-program data streamfurther comprises: generating, based on the request for the new programand on a first program mapping table from the multi-program data stream,a second program mapping table; and replacing the first program mappingtable in the single-program data stream with the second program mappingtable.
 20. The one or more non-transitory, computer readable storagemedia of claim 16, further comprising computer executable instructionsthat, when executed by the computing device, further cause the computingdevice to: assign, to the second association table, a version numbergreater than or equal to a version number of the first associationtable.